Air conditioner



Oct. 25, 1955 F. H. FLETCHER ET AL 2,721,623

AIR CONDITIONER Filed Dec. 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS '2 FrankI-LFZeZcher and By Carl aHafrFam n flliorng is United States Patent 2,721,623 AIR CONDITIONER Frank H. Fletcher, Flushing, and Carl C. Haferkamp, Oswego, N. Y.

Application December 27, 1951, Serial No. 263,582

9 Claims. (Cl. 183-27) This invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an improvement in air conditioners using water as a means of washing, cooling and otherwise conditioning air.

It is an object of this invention to devise an air conditioning unit which efiiciently employs water as a conditioning medium.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning unit having an improved means for intimately mixing air and water.

A further object of our invention is to provide an air conditioner having a means for effectively removing water particles and impurities from Water cooled air.

It is also an object of this invention to devise an air conditioner which is simply constructed, compact and light in weight and yet which adequately cools and conditions air.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention showing portions thereof in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l, drawn on a smaller scale than Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, but drawn on a smaller scale than Figure 1.

Similar reference characters in the several figures represent similar parts.

In the type of air conditioning unit disclosed herein, air is cooled and otherwise conditioned by intimately mixing water therewith in such a manner that the water evaporates into the air. As is commonly known, if water be evaporated into air and no outside source of heat exits the air will be cooled. Cooling is accomplished by virtue of the fact that the latent heat of vaporization is obtained from the air. In the most commonly employed conditioners of this type the water is sprayed into the air as it moves through the conditioner. The common spray type conditionersare bulky, costly and do not operate satisfactorily under all conditions.

In our invention we provide a conditioner in which the only moving elements are a series of blowers driven by a common shaft. One of the blowers is utilized to completely atomize water in the presence of air, thus assuring maximum evaporation of the water. A second blower is used to circulate conditioned air, While a third blower is interposed between the other two blowers in such a manner that water particles which are not completely evaporated, as well as impurities, are eifectively eliminated from the air stream. As will be apparent from the following description, our novel conditioner operates in a manner such that maximum operating efficiency is obtained in a unit which is much smaller than-the previ ously designed conditioners.

In the drawings, the conditioner generally indicated by reference character comprisesa housing which may be formed by casting, welding of separate members,

or by some other method. The housing may comprise 1 sections such as 11 and 12, and a cover plate 13. Of course additional sections, cover and inspection plates may be provided.

The upper section 11 has formed therein passageways or openings 14 and 15, and in addition may be provided with another passageway 16. Passageway 14 constitutes an inlet through which air is admitted to the conditioner, while passageway 15 constitutes an outlet for conditioned air. The passageway 16 constitutes an inlet for admitting additional air to the conditioning unit so that hot or cold air may be mixed with air that has been previously conditioned in order to modify the saturation and other conditions of the air. e

As shown in Fig. 1, the passageway 14 tapers inwardly as shown at 17. The inward portion of passageway 14 is attached to two horizontally extending housing members 18 and 19. Similarly, horizontal extending members 20, 21, 22 and 23 are provided within the housing. These members may be supported within the housing in any suitable manner, and as shown, the members 22 and 23 extend to the side of the housing section 11 and a vertically extending generally cylindrically formed member 24 rests on member 22 and serves to support the horizontally extending members 18, 19, 20 and 21. Member 22 extends outwardly from its connection to member 24. The horizontally extending members 18, 19, 20 and 21 are generally circular in shape and have central openings 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively, formed therein. Member 21 is much smaller than the other members (see Fig. 3) and joins 24 at one side only. Member 22 has an inwardly projecting portion which underlies member 21.

The horizontal members 18 and 20 together with the vertically extending cylinder member 24 form a cylindrical exhaust chamber 29 which is closed at the outside, except for the outlet 15, which leads from said chamber, and open at the center. The members 18 and 19, together with the member 24, form a cylindrical intake chamber 30 which is closed at the outside thereof, except for the passageway 14, and which has an opening in the center thereof. It is seen in Fig. 1 that the member 19 extends inwardly a slightly greater distance than the member 18. Similarly, members 19 and 21 form a cylindrical separator chamber 31 which is open in the center. A substantially cylindrical outlet chamber 32 is formed by horizontal members 21, 22 and vertical member 25a which member gives additional support to member 21. Between the horizontal members 22 and 23 there is provided a vertically extending cylindrical member 33, which, together with the members 23 and 24, forms a water reservoir 35, which is in part defined by the inward extension of cylindrical member 22 and an extension 34 of member 24. Thus, the reservoir 35 is open at the top, except where defined by the inward extension of 24, and the water is exposed to the air in the chamber 31. At the left hand side of the conditioner, as viewed in Fig. 1, a boss 36 having a vertically extending opening 37 is provided. To this boss and to the members 22 and 24 a horizontally extending boss 38 having a central opening 39 in connection with the opening 37, is attached. The member 23 has a depending flange 40, to which is attached a conduit 41.

The conduit 41 has a flange 42 which may be secured to the flange 40 by any suitable means, such as by welding. The conduit 41 comprises a vertically extending portion 43 and a horizontally extending portion 44. The latter horizontal portion has a reduced end 45. Within the conduit 41 a vertically extending Web member 46 is provided. Openings 47 are formed in the Web member and a vertically extending conduit 48 is in communication therewith.

Upstanding tube 49 having a base 50 is attached to the reduced end 45, in such 'a manner that the conduit'48 is in alinement with the central opening in the tube 49. Opening 51 in the horizontal member 23 connects the reservoir 35 with the conduit 41. Above the opening 51 a screen 52 prevents the entrance of foreign matter into the conduit 41.

Flange 53 on the cover 13 supports a motor 54. The motor has a vertical shaft 55, extending downwardly therefrom. An elongated collar 56 having an extended tubular portion 57 forming a centrifugal water chamber 57a is secured to the shaft 55 by any suitable means, such as the use of a key and set screws. The tubular portion extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft.

Attached to the collar 56 by any suitable means, such as by welding, are three blowers, namely, exhaust blower 58, intake blower 59 and separator blower 61). The exhaust blower 58 comprises a horizontally extending plate 61 which is secured to collar 56. The plate 61 is circular in plan and closely interfits with plate 13. Two sets of blades 62 and 63 extend upwardly from plate 61. Blades 62 extend inwardly, closely adjacent the collar 56, whereas blades 63 are approximately half the length of blade 62. As shown in Figure 2, the blades are curved in a manner common with blowers of this general type.

A top plate 64 which is circular in formation and which closely interfits with member 20, is secured to the upper edges of the blower blades 62 and 63. The intake blower 59 is constructed similarly to blower 58 and comprises a lower plate 65, blades 66 and 67 and a top plate 68. The separator blower 60 comprises blades 69 and 70 which are attached to the bottom surface of plate 65, and a lower plate member 71. Upper plate 68 of blower 59 is positioned immediately adjacent the inner edge of member 19, and the lower plate 71 of blower 60 is positioned immediately adjacent the inner edge of member 21. The inlet opening of blower 59 is in communication with intake chamber 30. The opening in blower 6t) defined by plate 71 which would normally be considered the inlet for said blower 60 is in fact an outlet, being the outlet for chamber 31, as will become apparent from the description of the operation of the blower which appears hereinafter.

An upstanding cylindrical tube 72 having a circular flange 73 is attached to a circular flange 74 formed on the bottom of the collar 56. The tubular member '72 is concentric with tube 49 and the top thereof is longitudinally alined with the top of tube 49. Spaced holes or conduits 75 lead outwardly from the hollow interior of the collar 56 into the blower 59.

At the lower end of conduit 48 there is provided a bolt 76 which serves to close the end of the conduit. The bolt may be removed when it is desired to clean out tube 49.

The lower end of the housing comprises a sump or reservoir 77. An opening 78 and a pipe 79 is provided for draining out the reservoir. Pipe 80 serves to lead off overflow water from the reservoir 35. A filler pipe 81 extends through the side of the housing and into the reservoir 35. The outlet chamber 32 has an outlet 82 leading into a housing chamber 83 which is defined by members 21, 22 and 25a. The housing may be provided with insulation such as shown at 84 and a thermometer 35 may also be provided.

While the collar 56, the blowers and various other structure have been shown and described as being formed of members integrally united, it is to be understood that such structure may be formed of separable elements suitably fastened together.

The operation of the air conditioner is as follows: The shaft 55 rotates counterclockwise, and consequently the three blowers 58, 59 and 60 rotate counterclockwise. Air is drawn into the inlet 14 and into intake chamber 30 by blower 59. The air on leaving blower 59 goes through blower 60 into the outlet chamber 32 and out through opening 82. From the housing chamber 83 the air goes through blower 58 and into the exhaust chamber 29, and out through outlet 15. Blower 58 also serves to draw in air through inlet 16. When the air conditioner is not operating water will rest in the conditioner at approximately the level shown in Figure 1. At this level water will flow down through conduit 41 up through tube 49, and flow over into the water chamber 57a formed in the bottom of collar 56.

When the shaft is rotating the water in the hollowed portion of collar 56 will, due to centrifugal action, be thrown against the inner sides of the collar. As a result of skin friction, as between the water and the inner wall of the collar, and as a result of centrifugal forces to which the water is subjected, the water will flow up and out through the openings 75 and into the blower 59. With the blowers whirling at a high speed, the water will be broken up into a fog, and the oncoming air will be saturated therewith. As the air leaves blower 59 it will be saturated with moisture, but it will also contain unevaporated particles of water, as well as impurities which were entrained therein before it entered the conditioner. Blower 60 is a centrifugal blower similar to the blowers 58 and 59 and tends to force the air and water outwardly thereof. However, blowers 58 and 59, together exert greater force than blower 60 and will overcome the effect of the latter blower and draw saturated air therethrough. However, since the particles of water and the dust have greater mass than the particles of saturated air, they will be acted upon by a greater centripetal force than the saturated air in blower 60, and such force is sufiicient to overcome the force of blowers 58 and 59. Thus, these heavier particles do not pass through the blower 60, but will be rejected and fall down into the water reservoir 35. The saturated air, after passing through blower 6t) and outlet 82, can, as previously described, be mixed with other air entering through inlet 16 in order to obtain desired conditions of temperature and humidity.

While no additional equipment is illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that suitable preheating and after-heating equipment may be used, as well as any suitable valve means for controlling the amount of air entering through inlets 14 and 16. In addition, automatic float means may be employed for regulating the level of the water in the reservoir 35. Also, it is intended that either refrigerated or unrefrigerated water may be used.

From the foregoing description of our invention it will be seen that the new form of air conditioner disclosed herein is so constructed, and operates in such a manner, that a high efiiciency will be obtained. Our conditioner is in addition, constructed in a simple manner and as a result, may be produced so as to sell at a reasonable price. Furthermore, an inspection of the drawing shows that the novel conditioner which we have invented contains relatively few moving parts and consequently little maintenance will be necessary. Also, the design of the conditioner is such that it is very compact. This makes it possible to such a conditioner in many places where the older bulkier units could not be employed.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that variations in details of form may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An air conditioner comprising a housing, a motor, a shaft extending therefrom, a collar affixed to said shaft having an extended water chamber formed therein, the sides of said water chamber extending substantially paral lel to the axis of said shaft, an air inlet passageway in said housing defined in part by inwardly tapering portions, horizontally extending members connected to said latter portions, central openings formed in said members, a vertical member forming with said horizontally extending members an intake chamber, an exhaust blower mounted on said collar having a bottom plate substantially closing the central opening of one of said horizontally extending members, an intake blower having an inlet in communication with said intake chamber, openings leading from said water chamber to the inlet side of said intake blower, a separator blower mounted on said collar, means forming a separator chamber in communication with said intake blower and said separator blower, means forming an outlet chamber in communication with the outlet side of said separator blower, means forming a housing chamber in communication with the inlet side of said exhaust blower, said outlet chamber and said housing chamber being in communication with one another, and means for introducing water into the said water chamber.

2. An air conditioner comprising a housing having therein an exhaust chamber, a separator chamber, and an intake chamber, said intake chamber being disposed intermediate the first and second mentioned chambers; an intake blower disposed within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower having an outlet through which its output passes, said separator blower being disposed within said separator chamber and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and disposed within said exhaust chamber, said intake chamber being devoid of blowers; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and affording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; and means including a centrifugal water impeller tube extending through said sep' arator blower and extending within said intake blower, having substantially radial water-discharge openings leading to the intake blower for supplying water thereto.

3. An air coditioner comprising a housing having therein an exhaust chamber, a separator chamber, and an intake chamber, said intake chamber being disposed intermediate the first and second mentioned chambers; an intake blower disposed within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower having an outlet through which its output passes, said separator blower being disposed within said separator chamber and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and disposed within said exhaust chamber, said intake chamber being devoid of blowers; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and affording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; a power shaft to which said blowers are connected and by which said blowers are driven in unison; a centrifugal water chamber disposed in a coaxial relation to said blowers and connected to said shaft for rotation in unison with said blowers, said centrifugal chamber 'being at one end in radial communication with said intake blower and terminating outside of said blowers, as a group, in a closed end, said chamber extending through the separator blower and within the intake blower; and means including a telescoping connection within said water chamber, for supplying water to said centrifugal chamber for delivery to said intake rotor by way of said one end.

4. An air conditioner comprising a housing having therein an exhaust chamber, a separator chamber, and an intake chamber, said intake chamber being disposed intermediate the first and second mentioned chamber; an intake blower disposed within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower having an outlet through which its output passes, said separator blower being disposed within said separator chamber, and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and disposed within said exhaust chamber; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and afiording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; a power shaft to which said blowers are connected and by which said blowers are driven in unison; a centrifugal water chamber disposed in a coaxial relation to said blowers and connected to said shaft for rotation in unison with said blowers, said centrifugal chamber being at one end in radial communication with said intake blower and terminating outside of said blowers, as a group, in a closed end; a rotatable tube connected to said centrifugal chamber at its closed end and extending lengthwise of that chamber to a point in proximity to said intake blower; a stationary tube disposed within said rotatable tube; and water supply means for supplying water by way of said stationary tube to said centrifugal chamber for delivery by way of said one end to said intake blower under the centrifugal influence of said centrifugal chamber.

5. An air conditioner comprising a housing having therein an exhaust chamber, a separator chamber, and an intake chamber, said intake chamber being disposed intermediate the first and second mentioned chambers; an intake blower disposed within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower having an outlet through which its output passes, said separator blower being disposed within said separator chamber and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and disposed within said exhaust chamber; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and aifor-ding a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; a power shaft to which said blowers are connected and by which said blowers are driven in unison; a centrifugal water chamber disposed in a coaxial relation to said blowers and connected to said shaft for rotation in unison with said blowers, said centrifugal chamber being at one end in radial communication with said intake blower and terminating outside of said blowers, as a group, in a closed end; a rotatable tube connected to said centrifugal chamber at its closed end and extending lengthwise of that chamber to a point in proximity to said intake blower; a stationary tube disposed within said rotatable tube; and water supply means for supplying water by way of said stationary tube to said centrifugal chamber for delivery by way of said one end to said intake blower under the centrifugal influence of said. centrifugal chamber, said water supply means including a water reservoir within said housing and there disposed beneath the perimetrical margin of said separator blower, and a conduit leading from said reservoir and maintained in communication with said stationary tube.

6. An air conditioner comprising a housing having therein an exhaust chamber, a separator chamber, and an intake chamber, said intake chamber being disposed intermediate the first and second mentioned chambers; an intake blower disposed within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower having an outlet through which its output passes, said separator blower being disposed within said separator chamber and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and disposed within said exhaust chamber; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and aifording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; a power shaft to which said blowers are connected and by which said blowers are driven in unison; a centrifugal water chamber disposed in a coaxial relation to said blowers and connected to said shaft for rotation in unison with said blowers, said centrifugal chamber being at one end in radial communication with said intake blower and terminating outside of said blowers, as a group, in a closed end; a rotatable tube connected to said centrifugal chamber at its closed end and extending lengthwise of that chamber to a point in proximity to said intake blower; a stationary tube disposed within said rotatable tube; and water supply means for supplying water by way of said stationary tube to said centrifugal chamber for delivery by way of said one end to said intake blower under the centrifugal influence of said centrifugal chamber, said water supply means including a water reservoir within said housing and there disposed beneath the perimetrical margin of said separator blower, and a conduit leading from said reservoir and maintained in communication with said stationary tube; a sump reservoir within said housing and there disposed beneath said water reservoir and communicating with said water reservoir by way of an overflow opening through which excess water from said water reservoir is delivered to said sump reservoir.

7. An air conditioner comprising a housing having therein an exhaust chamber, a separator chamber, and an intake chamber, said intake chamber being disposed intermediate the first and second mentioned chambers; an intake blower disposed within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower having an outlet through which its output passes, said separator blower being disposed within said separator chamber and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and disposed within said exhaust chamber, said intake chamber being devoid of blowers; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and affording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; means forming an air inlet leading from without said housing directly to said intake chamber; static means forming a supplementary air inlet leading from without said housing directly to said conduit means at a point intermediate said separator blower and said exhaust blower, said static means enabling air from the exterior of the housing to mix with air from the separator blower; and means forming an air outlet leading from said exhaust chamber to a point without said housing; and means including a centrifugal water impeller tube extending through said separator blower and extending within said intake blower, having substantially radial waterdischarge openings leading to the intake blower for supplying water thereto.

8. An air conditioner comprising an upright housing having therein a horizontal exhaust chamber, a horizontal separator chamber and a horizontal intake chamber, said chambers being disposed in a contiguous relation and said intake chamber being intermediate the first and second named chambers; an intake blower operating about a vertical axis within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower operating about said axis within said separator chamber and having an outlet through which its output passes and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower, said separator blower being disposed directly below said intake blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and operating about said axis within said exhaust chamber, said exhaust blower being disposed directly above said intake blower, said intake chamber being devoid of blowers; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and affording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; and means including a centrifugal water impeller tube extending through said separator blower and extending within said intake blower, having substantially radial water-discharge openings leading to the intake blower for supplying water thereto.

9. An air conditioner comprising an upright housing having therein a horizontal exhaust chamber, a horizontal separator chamber and a horizontal intake chamber, said chambers being disposed in a contiguous relation and said intake chamber being intermediate the first and second named chambers; an intake blower operating about a vertical axis within said separator chamber and having an intake in communication with said intake chamber; a separator blower operating about said axis within said separator chamber and having an outlet through which its output passes and conducting the output of the intake blower to the outlet of said separator blower, said separator blower being disposed directly below said intake blower; an exhaust blower having an inlet and operating about said axis within said exhaust chamber, said exhaust blower being disposed directly above said intake blower, said intake chamber being devoid of blowers; and conduit means connecting the outlet of said separator blower with the inlet of said exhaust blower and affording a passage through which air is delivered from the outlet of said separator blower to the inlet of said exhaust blower; a vertically disposed power shaft to which said blowers are connected and by which said blowers are driven in unison; a vertically disposed centrifugal water chamber arranged in a coaxial relation to said blowers and connected to said shaft for rotation in unison with said blowers, said centrifugal chamber projecting downwardly through the said separator blower from the central vicinity of said intake blower and being there provided with radially disposed conduits maintaining communication between said centrifugal chamber and said intake blower; a closure for the lower end of said centrifugal chamber; and means for supplying water to said centrifugal chamber and including a water tube projecting upwardly into the vicinity of the upper end of said water chamber and there terminating at a point in proximity to said conduits, whereby water delivered to said centrifugal chamber is in turn delivered to the intake blower under the centrifugal influence of said centrifugal chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,991 Fisher Apr. 11, 1911 1,725,218 Spaer Aug. 30, 1929 2,218,198 Harris Oct. 15, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,618 Great Britain Apr. 18, 1914 182,748 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1921 

